Coffin



(No Model.)

D. R. JOHNSON.

OOFFIN.

Patented Dec. 10, 1889.

WMvaoQ ey N. Pnsna Pmmmm n m, Washing:

p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID R. JOHNSON, OF MILW'AUKEE, VISCONSINF COFFIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,042, dated December10, 1889. Application filed July 15, 1889. $e rial No. 317,559. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID R. JOHNSON, of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and in the State of \Visconsin, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Coffinsor Burial-Gases; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to coffins and burialeases, and will be fullydescribed hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of one endof a coffin embodying my invention and showing my folding shelfextended. Fig. 2 is a like view showing it closed. Fig. 3 is a plan viewshowing the shelf extended, and Figs. 4 and 5 are details of amodification.

A is the body of the coffin, which is provided with the usual moldings aI) on the sides and an upper molding c on each end, and to a molding cis hinged a shelf 13, which has a bottom molding (I, that corresponds tothe side moldings, and to the inside of this shelf a brace C is hinged,so that when the shelf is folded against the end of the coffin it willlie in a groove 0 in the shelf, and thus permit the latter to fit closeup against the coffin end, where it may be secured by a screw passedthrough it at The end of the coffin is notched, as at g, and when theshelf is lifted the brace is caught in the notch, and thus the shelf isheld in position to receive flowers, candles, or any other such devicesor decorations, which have been heretofore placed on separate stands.

The form of the molding c and the adjacent portion of the shelf maybevaried without departing from the spirit of my invention, as

shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and is therefore not an essential feature of myinvention.-

Vhile I have shown my device as applied to only one end of the coffin,it is obvious that itmay be applied to either or both ends or to anyportion or portions of the side.

The shape or style of the brace C may be varied in any manner desired,and it is immaterial whether it is hinged to the shelf, as shown, ordirectly to the coffin-body; but in either case it is essential that theunder or inner side of the shelf shall be provided with the describedgroove 6 to receive said brace C, so that when the shelf is not in useit may receive said brace and lie close against the end or side of thecoffin-body, and it is also essential that the extreme end of my shelfshould be formed or provided with a molding exactly the same as thatsurrounding the bottom edge of the coffin or burial-case, so that whensaid shelf is down its existence may not be apparent.

In Figs. 1 and? I show the shelf B at a plane lower than the top of thecoffin, and in Figs. 4 and 5 I show the top of the shelf flush with thetop 'of the latter.

I am aware that heretofore coffin-lids have been made in hingedsections, so that a part thereof may be turned back and serve as ashrine for the receptacle of flowers or other articles; but such becomeuseless when the lid is removed, as is frequently the case at funerals,whereas my invention is capable of use with an entirely opened casket;and I am also aware that shelves have been hinged or removably hookeddirectly to the coffin body; but so far as I am aware said shelves havenever been provided with a groove on the inner or under side to receivethe supporting-bracket, nor have such shelves been provided with an. endmolding corresponding to that around the bottom of the cofiin, nor havesuch shelves ever been constructed to be flush with the top edge of thecoffinbody, which several features constitute my present improvements.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is i As an article of manufacture, a coffin,casket, or burial-case provided with an upper and a lower .molding, theupper molding being beveled or inclined on its under side from the outeredge inward at a given point, and the lower molding entirely removedfrom the body at a corresponding point, in combination with a shelfhaving one edge cut away on its inner or under side to acorrespondingbevel to that of said upper molding, and united thereto by a hingesecured to said beveled or cut-away surfaces, a molding secured to theouter or upper side of the extreme end of said shelf and correspondingto the said lower have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in molding ofthe body, and a bracket hinged the county of Milwaukee and State of istoone of said parts and adapted to bear cousin, in the presence of twoWitnesses.

against the other when said shelf is horizon- DAVID R. JOHNSON. 5 tallyextended flush with the top of said body, Witnesses:

substantially as set forth. S. S. STOUT,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I H. G. UNDERWOOD.

